The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-16
JOSEPH MADE KNOWN
CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL NOTES
BY PROF. SAMUEL I. CUR lSS.
Lesson III at the International series,
second Quarter for Sunday, Npr'l lie
Text of ia. Lesson, sene,l, NI, 10.
Golden Text, Romans Nj, "a

We may regard the famine ia Egypt ~ u
part of Gods plan for bringing the children
of Israel thithcr Israel was 10 Ia IN Gods
school. Part of lSracrS education was to be
m Egypt, the university of ancient cNlllza-
ton: part was Ia be in the wilderness under
Gods Immediate tuition through his APP
pointed servants.
Jacob and his sons were in want of food
Gen. xiii, /, y. He sent them TO Egypt, but
kept back Ben jamin, his youngest son.
Joseph recognized his brethren, hut they did
not recognize him. As he did not see BenJa-
min with them, he might well fear that he
too had suffered violence at their hands. lie
put them therefore to the test III II way COM
mon in the east 10y charging them with being
spies Gen xiii, -. The truth came ont III
regard to the family, that they had a younger
brother Joseph then told them that they
should not see his face again unless they
brought that brother with them and required
them to leave Simeon AS a hostage ". .3).
Then it was that they spoke of the wrong
that they had done to Joseph in his presence,
They departed with n supply of food, but
each found to his dslnay the money which
he had paid in the mouth Of his
sack They tell their father the news
anu no tH'hi ioi ''''"J
the confidence of the family, and declares
that Benjamin shall not go down WITH then
But at last constrained 10y their failing
supply OF food and the assurances of Judah,
he sends item with present and double
money They are gracously received, are
invited to dine with Joseph, who is deeply
moved when he sees Benjamin Gen xiii, ~,
so. After the fessting they are subjected to
one more trial. At Josephs command their
money is returned again and his cup is put
in the mouth OF Benjamin's sack Gen, Xiv,
/, q Soon after they have left they are
hotly pursued by Josephs steward who re.
proaches them for having stolen his masters
cup They protest that they are innocent,
and declare that whoever of them has tue
cup shall he ,Ioseph's slave. He examines all
the sacks and finds the cup in Beniamin's.
They rend their clothes and return Judah
becomes their spokesman. With rare pathos
and eioqurnce he speaks 10 the heart OF
Joseph Uicn xiv, 1854, who only by the
utmost self command Gen Xiii. u; xiii, 80,
III had succeeded IN putting them TO a test
which seems harsh and unfeeling, but which
was necessary Ia show that they are entirely
dlilcrcn; meu from what they once were,
THE LESSON.
Joseph Alone with His Brothers US. |, o.
Joseph can no longer control his feelings,
which have been stirred every time he has
met his brothers and which are now raised to
the highest pitch He commands every one
to go out but his brethren. and then breaks
out in the loud weeping which i, characters
tic of Orientals lex. xii, so. The sound Of
his voice even reaches the court of Pharaoh
V. ). With simplicity and tenderness born
Of true affection, he lays aside every barrier
which exists between him and them on ac-
count OF his exalted position, and says, Il am
Joseph; doth my father yet live" They
cannot answer him. The bitter memory of
the hour is before them when, twcnty years
ago, that same Joseph had pleaded for his
life and when they had rudely thrust him INTO
the pit Now they see before them the ruler
of Egypt, who has power 10 put them to death
in a moment. They stand therefore utterly
COMPOUNDED before him.
vs. 4, ). But Joseph puts himself on the
same level with them, bidding them To come
near him, and says: II am Joseph your
brother, whom ye sold into Egypt" He does
not remind themof what they have done 10
cause them pain, but rather to identify him.
self In the most generous and comforting
way he assures them three time, that after
all it was God who had sent him To Egypt to
preserve life Compare VS.. Z, s..
God Rules Tvs 6-Sl These verses clearly
teach two things: /. tod has plan with re-
gard to the government of this world ..
That all thing, are made subservient to the
best interests of his people and the progress 4
his kingdom The act of Joseph's brethren in
selling him was most base, and brought on
them much suffering; but God ovetruled il in
such way that it worked tremendously with
his plan. From worldly point of view, 1t
was a most Insignificant event when the sons
OF Israel came to Egypt. They were but a
mere handful of ignorant shepherds in com
parison with the wealthy and learned Egyp-
tians Joseph might well have considered
that bis great WORK was to provide for the
Egyptians; but he recognized that he had
higher calling in providing for the people Of
redemption that was Yet to be.
When he speaks Of himself us n father 10
Pharaoh be uses an expression which would
be familiar To his brethren as indicating that
he wa, pharaoh's prime minister, is we should
say i'll modern phrase. 1t is interesting to see
that he occupied relatively the same position
with reference to Pharaoh that he had
with regard to Potiphar and in the prison,
thus showing that the same traits which make
a man faithful and successful in "a humble
position will make him so in an exalted one.
Joseph'S Love for his Father Tvs 9 49, These
verses exhibit the tendere>t tial love The
thought does not enter his mind that his old
father may disgrace him, aud that the Egyp-
tians may think less OF him because OF his
relationship To these shepherds, whom they
would not regard with favor on account of
their occupation Gen. XVI, "a. His only
thought Is to have his father come as soon as
possible that lie may take care of him in his
old age in Goshen, which was in the most
fruitful part of Egypt He alludes to his
high position in Egypt, not in any boastful
spirit, but because he thinks it will make his
father happy TO hear of his success.
Love Opens the Way Tvs IA, l5--First he
embraces his own brother Ben jamin, and
then kissed all the rest OF them, while his
tears flow freely in the joy Of that hour His
brethren, who until this time have been dumb |
with fear and amazement, under these dem
onstrations of affection are now able TO speak |
with him The perfect love Of their brother
has cast out fear.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED
l. God cannot treat us with favor until We |
give evidence Of true repentance. like Joseph's /
brethren.
=. God loves the sinner while he hates the |
sin. The stern Judge becomes a loving |
= -.